Day 1 on Champlain

Opens anglers begin their quest for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

Bryan Labelle started his morning close to the launch area near Plattsburgh, NY.
Bryan Labelle started his morning close to the launch area near Plattsburgh, NY.
The decision to stay close paid off quickly as Labelle swings a keeper largemouth into the boat.
The decision to stay close paid off quickly as Labelle swings a keeper largemouth into the boat.
Labelle readies the fish for a ride in the live well.
Labelle readies the fish for a ride in the live well.
Competitors fish close to a ferry that is used to transport vehicles across Lake Champlain between New York and Vermont.
Competitors fish close to a ferry that is used to transport vehicles across Lake Champlain between New York and Vermont.
Jeff Heppert fires a long cast along the shoreline.
Jeff Heppert fires a long cast along the shoreline.
Using electronics to mark fish will be a key strategy on Lake Champlain.
Using electronics to mark fish will be a key strategy on Lake Champlain.
Carroll Blevins swings a smallmouth into the boat.
Carroll Blevins swings a smallmouth into the boat.
Blevins has to pull out his measuring board on this fish.
Blevins has to pull out his measuring board on this fish.
The fish did measure…
The fish did measure…
 …and Blevins places it in his live well.
…and Blevins places it in his live well.
Paul Pagnato hooks up with a heavy Lake Champlain smallmouth.
Paul Pagnato hooks up with a heavy Lake Champlain smallmouth.
The fish makes a run and jumps at the bow of the boat.
The fish makes a run and jumps at the bow of the boat.
Pagnato pulls the fish downward to limit the height of the jump.
Pagnato pulls the fish downward to limit the height of the jump.
This fish still has plenty of fight as the dip net enters the water.
This fish still has plenty of fight as the dip net enters the water.
The fish is finally secured in bottom of the net.
The fish is finally secured in bottom of the net.
Pagnato said this was his best fish of the day so far.
Pagnato said this was his best fish of the day so far.
 Even on a body of water as huge as Lake Champlain, some anglers found themselves sharing a fishing spot.
Even on a body of water as huge as Lake Champlain, some anglers found themselves sharing a fishing spot.
Pagnato punches in a waypoint on his GPS where he caught his smallmouth.
Pagnato punches in a waypoint on his GPS where he caught his smallmouth.
Co-angler Paul Blimkie boats a keeper fish with an assist from his Day 1 pro, Rob Grabow.
Co-angler Paul Blimkie boats a keeper fish with an assist from his Day 1 pro, Rob Grabow.
Elite Series pro Ott DeFoe won Northern Open #1 held on Douglas Lake.
Elite Series pro Ott DeFoe won Northern Open #1 held on Douglas Lake.
Several anglers were fishing nearly into Canada on Day 1.
Several anglers were fishing nearly into Canada on Day 1.
Bryan Labelle unbuttons a keeper largemouth.
Bryan Labelle unbuttons a keeper largemouth.
Co-angler Scott Dietrich fights a smallmouth into the boat.
Co-angler Scott Dietrich fights a smallmouth into the boat.
Dietrich said he is a Life Member of B.A.S.S.
Dietrich said he is a Life Member of B.A.S.S.
Koby Kreger pulls a fish from the grass.
Koby Kreger pulls a fish from the grass.
Kreger moves to place with fish in the live well.
Kreger moves to place with fish in the live well.
Dave Root fires a long cast with a spinnerbait.
Dave Root fires a long cast with a spinnerbait.
Root shows the camera his best of the day.
Root shows the camera his best of the day.